"It is high time for Malta's construction industry to take a quantum leap in quality terms rather than focus on just numbers. This is the only way that we can assure that the industry becomes smart, robust and credible in the country's overall economy," said Perit David Xuereb at the Construction Industry & Property Market - National Conference 2019, organised by Property Malta last week.

The Chamber president was providing the Chamber's views about the challenges of the building industry as he was participating in a panel discussion together with leading players in the field.

Perit Xuereb said that the industry's importance in the country's economic landscape was undeniable, as it contributed to the overall economic growth of the nation in an essential supporting role.

However, Perit Xuereb probed on where the country really wanted to see its built environment in five or 10 years' time. He said that all the true and genuine actors needed to come together and devise a plan ahead that truly determined the overall ambitions for Malta and the quality of life of its inhabitants in the future.

He called on politicians, regulators and practitioners alike to look at the bigger picture and determine the policies that will define our environment, our road network, our built infrastructure and ultimately the quality of life and resilience of its community - our nation.

Perit Xuereb mentioned a number of trigger technologies that are expected to propel in the direction of quality and which needed to be taken into consideration even in this debate, as they were expected to be the disruptive technologies that will be determining the goal-posts of tomorrow's economy which included the building industry.